Church Of The Harvest | Sermon Podcast | Cleveland, TN

In this practical and challenging message, guest speaker Michael Laiya addresses a common frustration among believers: the tension between knowing what the Bible says and experiencing those truths in daily life. He emphasizes that while knowledge is the starting point, transformation only occurs when we move from head knowledge to active, obedient faith.

The Information-Transformation Gap: Many believers are "religiously obnoxious"—they know the scriptures by heart but their lives remain unchanged. The problem isn't a lack of information; it's a lack of revelation followed by application.

Old Bread vs. Fresh Bread: Michael stresses that revelation must be fresh. Holding onto an old encounter with God is like eating stale bread—it once nourished you, but it won't sustain you today.

Faith is a Verb: Faith is not a feeling or a passive belief; it is your specific response to what God has spoken to you. The water only turned "hard" for Peter when he actually stepped out of the boat.

The "Whose Move Is It?" Principle: We often wait on God to move in our lives, forgetting that He may be waiting on our response. If He has already spoken a direction (even if it’s "quit eating junk food" or "call your former boss"), the next move is yours.

The Healing Power of Obedience: Sharing his own testimony of a potential cancer diagnosis, Michael explains how he stopped relying on past experiences and "washed himself" in the Word until the healing promise dropped from his head into his heart.

Michael poses a central question: Are you waiting for God, or is God waiting for you? He suggests that many people are stuck because they are waiting for a "zap" from God, while God is waiting for them to take the step of obedience He already asked for.

"God is not waiting for something to change in your life... He’s waiting for you to respond to what He’s already told you. It’s really simple. If He’s spoken something to you, He’s waiting for you to say, 'Yes, Lord.'"

Romans 12:1-2: The command to present our bodies as a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Psalm 1:1-3: The promise of prosperity for those who delight in and meditate on the law of the Lord.

Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."

Mark 5:25-34: The woman with the issue of blood, who acted on her faith by touching the hem of Jesus' garment.

Mark 3:1-5: The man with the withered hand, who had to "stretch it out" before he could be healed.

Matthew 14:28-29: Peter walking on water only after responding to Jesus' command to "come."

The message concludes with a call to identify where you are "stuck." Whether it is a need for salvation, a specific mountain you need moved, or simply a need to reignite a cold heart, the solution is the same: identify what God has already said and take your move.

In this impactful message, guest speaker Michael Cook explores the profound difference between how we see ourselves and how God perceives us. Drawing from the lives of David and Gideon, Michael delivers a "right-on-time" word for anyone who has ever felt overlooked, disqualified, or paralyzed by fear.

God Doesn't Speak to Your Condition; He Speaks to Your Calling: Using the example of Gideon hiding in a winepress, Michael explains that while we focus on our current struggle, God addresses our future potential.

The Power of Obscurity: David wasn't developed in a palace; he was developed in a field tending "dumb sheep." Michael reminds us that God does His best work in hidden places where no one is clapping or watching.

Dangerous to the Devil: A recurring theme throughout the message is that when you step into the identity God has for you, you become a direct threat to the enemy's kingdom.

Identity vs. Resume: God doesn't call us based on our past failures, our degrees, or our social status. He calls us based on the "you" He knew before the trauma and the rejection.

A Personal Journey of Redemption: Michael shares his vulnerable story of traveling to Danville, Virginia, five years ago to pursue his now-wife, Lisa. He recounts the intense fear and "puking" anxiety he felt, believing he was too "black sheep" and "reprobate" for God’s plan, only for Holy Spirit to override his insecurity with peace.

Judges 6:12-16

"When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.' ... Gideon replied, 'But how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest... and I am the least in my family.' The Lord answered, 'I will be with you...'"

1 Samuel 16:6-12

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height... The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

Additional References:

1 Samuel 17: David defeating Goliath using his own tools (the sling and stones) rather than Saul's armor.

Psalm 139 (Referenced): Being fearfully and wonderfully made/known by God.

Zechariah 4:6 (Theme): "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit."

Michael emphasizes that God often strips away the things we try to hide behind—like Saul’s armor or reliance on numbers—so that the "real you" can emerge.

"God will remove anything that tries to replace who He knew you to be. Victory doesn't come from imitation; it comes from revelation."

Stop Rehearsing Failures: Cease listing your limitations like a CPA and start believing what God says about your strength.

Dream Big: Reject "small thinking" and embrace the "greater things" God is calling you to do.

Acknowledge Your Value: When the enemy reminds you of who you were, let Holy Spirit remind you of whose you are.

The service concluded with a call to the altar to let the Holy Spirit wash over the congregation and "re-identify" them. Michael prayed that every person would sense their worthiness, not because of what they’ve done, but because of who God is.

In this vibrant message from Church of the Harvest, Pastor Rhonda Davis explores the nature of a God who specializes in beating the odds. Drawing from Isaiah 64, she challenges the congregation to expand their expectations beyond the "ordinary" and prepare for awe-inspiring moves of God that exceed their highest expectations.

The Definition of Unlikely: Pastor Rhonda contrasts the dictionary definition of "unlikely" (holding little prospect of success) with God’s track record of choosing the least expected moments and people to reveal His power.

History of Divine Interruptions: From the "Great Awakening" during the American Revolution to the "Jesus People Movement" of the late 1960s, Pastor Rhonda illustrates how God frequently uses times of deep darkness and unlikely instruments (like "burnt-out hippies") to set the world on fire.

Uncommon Strategies (SPS): Instead of GPS, God uses a Sovereign Positioning System. He can position you, your boss, or a specific door of opportunity exactly where it needs to be for His glory.

Qualified by Jesus: A powerful reminder that society's disqualifications are often God's qualifications. Whether you feel too old, too young, or uneducated, being "with Jesus" is the only credential that matters.

The Azusa Street Legacy: The message honors the 1906 revival led by William Seymour—an "unlikely" African American man with one eye who couldn't read—whose obedience birthed a global spirit-filled movement that now numbers over 500 million people.

The central theme of the service was a call for every individual to recognize themselves as a candidate for God's use. Pastor Rhonda emphasizes that God isn't looking for religious perfection but for loyalty born out of being forgiven.

"Your disqualification in the eyes of people is often your qualification in the hands of God... The church is here not to expose people; the church is here to remove the barriers to get people into Christ."

Isaiah 64:1-3: "You did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectation... no eye has seen a God like You."

1 Corinthians 1:27: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise."

Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord."

Joel 2:28: "I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy."

The service concluded with a prayer of salvation for several individuals and a corporate time of intercession. Pastor Rhonda encouraged the "Harvesters" to maintain the "wood on the fire"—to not let their spiritual experiences become mere memories, but to use them as launching pads for the coming week.

In this preparatory message delivered just before the Billy Burke Miracle Healing Crusade, Pastor Rhonda Davis at Church of the Harvest speaks on the divine mechanics of breakthroughs. Drawing from the biblical account of the widow and the jars of oil, she explores how God uses our "empty places" as the very containers for His extraordinary provision.

Making Room for the Extraordinary: Pastor Rhonda emphasizes that miracles require space. Whether it's the physical vessel of the church building or the spiritual vessel of our hearts, we must intentionally "make room" for God to move.

The Inconvenience of the Divine: Recounting stories of missionaries staying in her childhood home, Pastor Rhonda notes that anointing often comes with inconvenience. Making space for God may disrupt our schedules, but the visitation is always worth the cost.

The "Now" Moment: Addressing the crisis of the widow in 2 Kings 4, Pastor Rhonda explains that God isn't interested in just discussing the past. He meets us in the raw, authentic "now" of our desperation.

Childlike Expectation: Using the story of a young girl bringing an umbrella to a prayer meeting for rain, she challenges the congregation to increase their "expectation trigger." Logic is good, but faith must remain creative and expectant.

The Power of Shutting the Door: A critical step in the widow's miracle was shutting the door behind her. Pastor Rhonda explains that we must "shut the door" on critics, mourners, and the voices of doubt to allow the oil of the Spirit to flow.

Pastor Rhonda thunders a word of encouragement to those feeling "void" or "without form." Just as the Spirit hovered over the darkness in Genesis, God has extraordinary grace for the empty places in our lives.

"Don't curse the empty places. Don't let them mock you. Every time that empty place tries to get your focus, start saying to the Lord: 'I know you are the God who fills this. You've done it before, and You will do it again.'"

Habakkuk 1:5: "Watch and be utterly amazed... I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told."

2 Kings 4:1-7: The story of the widow's oil and the empty jars.

Genesis 1:1-3: The Spirit hovering over the void before creation.

Ezekiel 16:6: "And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you... 'Live!'"

As the church prepares for a week of healing services, Pastor Rhonda leaves the congregation with a final image: the "Red Umbrella." She urges everyone to live with an active expectation of a "suddenly," believing that the oil of God's provision will never run dry as long as there is an empty vessel ready to receive it.

Sonya Merkel testified to the Lord's goodness in her life.

Today’s message focused on the profound spiritual and practical power of the blood of Jesus, described as "Calvary’s Benefit Package." Using the imagery of a high-level corporate benefits plan, the speaker emphasized that through Christ’s sacrifice, believers have access to total forgiveness, physical healing, and divine protection that far exceeds any earthly security. The sermon journeyed from the historical "passover" in Egypt to the eternal "mercy seat" in heaven, reminding the congregation that the enemy cannot cross the "bloodline" drawn over their lives. It was a call to move away from self-reliance and "good works" and instead place full confidence in the incorruptible, redeeming power of the Lamb of God.

"Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.